Arne Slot has come under pressure at Liverpool throughout the season (Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Arne Slot continues to receive full support from Liverpool‘s leadership despite an underwhelming season in charge. The Dutchman clinched the Premier League crown at the first attempt last term but has found it challenging to replicate that same level of performance this year.
Despite spending nearly £450million during the summer window, the Reds occupy fifth position in the Premier League standings and have yet to approach the standards they achieved last season. Signings such as Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez and Alexander Isak raised expectations last summer but the club have fallen short of impressing in the league. Slot has faced increasing scrutiny, with doubts surrounding his future at Anfield having emerged in certain circles following the struggles of the present campaign.
Nevertheless, the Fenway Sports Group maintains complete confidence in the Dutchman and considers he has been « dealt a difficult hand » throughout the current campaign.
The Athletic reveals that the devastating passing of Diogo Jota during the summer impacted the entire club profoundly.
The report also indicates the Liverpool leadership felt that Slot’s management of the distressing circumstances demonstrated « great leadership » and maintained squad unity throughout.
Significant injuries to the likes of Isak, Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni have also been factored into the equation. This has been compounded by a dip in form from pivotal players including Alexis Mac Allister and the outgoing Mohamed Salah.
Those at the helm of the club continue to back Slot and are confident he can turn the tide. FSG believe that with further reinforcements in the summer transfer window, the 47-year-old can return to delivering silverware, much in the same way his predecessor Jurgen Klopp achieved in the 2023/24 season.
Despite mounting pressure for Slot’s dismissal, FSG have no intention of making a sweeping change and « start again » next season. The report states that Liverpool’s top brass do not consider the Dutchman to be « effectively on trial » until the season’s conclusion and have set no specific benchmarks for him to retain his position at Anfield.
Slot reportedly retains the full backing of Liverpool’s owners (Image: Getty)
Club icon Steven Gerrard shares this view and feels Slot needs additional time to address the issues plaguing the squad.
Speaking on the Overlap, when quizzed on whether Slot remains secure in his role, the 45 year old said: « He has with me because I know more than anyone on the planet how difficult it is to win a league, and for him to come in and win a league, in his first season, he’s got a lot more credit with me.
« Jamie will tell you, Liverpool will demand, they expect to win it every year. I think he needs the opportunity to play his way out of trouble and fix the issues and try and get himself back in a good place.
« I think he did during that period a few months ago where they’d lost nine out of 12 and then they went on a run where he took them from 12th to fourth in the league. I think someone who has won a league deserves at least a full season to try and get out of the problems and issues that they’ve got, I’m certainly one of them.
« But, I have to understand what the fans are saying as well, because it has been dire on certain games and performances. »
A victory in the FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester City this weekend could go a long way towards restoring faith amongst the supporters. The Reds travel to the Etihad Stadium to take on Pep Guardiola‘s side, with the opportunity to shatter their hopes of a domestic double by securing a maiden triumph over them this campaign.
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